Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Children With High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder and Anxiety

• Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule - Child/Parent Version [ Time Frame: Post Treatment (16 weeks) ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Scores on parent-administered anxiety diagnostic interview after treatment or waitlist.
  
  

• Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children [ Time Frame: Post Treatment (16 weeks) ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Scores on self-report anxiety rating scale after treatment or waitlist.
  
  
• Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (Child and Parent Versions) [ Time Frame: Post Treatment (16 weeks) ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Scores on self-and parent-report anxiety rating scale after treatment or waitlist.
  
  

The purpose of the current study is to evaluate the effectiveness of an empirically-supported, individually-based cognitive-behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Recent research suggests that 47 - 84% of children with ASD experience clinically significant levels of anxiety due to inhibited temperament, physiological hyperarousal, and distinct information processing biases. Despite the clear need for effective treatments for children with ASD and anxiety, there have been few empirical studies. However, a small body of literature has demonstrated growing support for the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to treat anxiety in children with high-functioning ASD. Kendall and Hedtke's Coping Cat cognitive-behavioral therapy program for anxious children will be utilized as the primary intervention. To date, there are no studies that have used this treatment program for anxiety in children with developmental disorders, including ASD. However, Coping Cat has been successfully adapted for children with a variety of co-occurring diagnoses (e.g., physical impairments, selective mutism). Participants in this study will be 20 children aged 7;0 to 14;11 years diagnosed with high-functioning ASD and at least one anxiety disorder (separation anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, or social phobia). A randomized controlled trial design will be employed. It is hypothesized that participants in the CBT condition will demonstrate a significantly larger reduction in overall levels of anxiety from pre-treatment to post-treatment compared to those in the waitlist (WL) condition and that children who complete the CBT treatment will maintain gains at two-month follow-up.